ANTHRAX Joins BLACK SABBATH’s Farewell Concert: A Thrash Tribute to Metal’s Founding Fathers
Metal history is about to be made. On July 5, 2025, BLACK SABBATH’s original lineup will reunite one last time for their final performance — the Back To The Beginning concert in their hometown of Birmingham, England. And among the heavy-hitting supporting acts is none other than ANTHRAX, the New York thrash icons who credit SABBATH as one of their greatest influences.
It’s a full-circle moment for ANTHRAX, who last toured with SABBATH on 1986’s Seventh Star trek — their first arena tour. “It’s an honor,” said drummer Charlie Benante, recalling how SABBATH’s sonic darkness shaped ANTHRAX’s early sound. “We covered ‘Sabbath Bloody Sabbath’ as a B-side and it became a big thing for us. Growing up, I had to hide my SABBATH shirts from my Catholic mom!”
Scott Ian, the band’s guitarist and co-founder, still vividly remembers hearing BLACK SABBATH for the first time at eight years old in his uncle’s room. “The bells, the thunder, the heaviness — I’d never heard anything like it,” he said. “Tony Iommi was basically my first guitar teacher.” Now, nearly five decades later, he’ll share a stage with the man himself — again.
The rest of ANTHRAX echoed similar reverence. Joey Belladonna called the chance to play with SABBATH again “electric” and Frank Bello praised Geezer Butler as one of his main influences. Jon Donais, newer to the band but no less devoted, recalled staying up all night in college listening to Sabotage, his favorite SABBATH record.
The event, curated by Tom Morello of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, sold out in under 10 minutes and features an unprecedented lineup of metal royalty: METALLICA, SLAYER, TOOL, PANTERA, MASTODON, and a “supergroup” of rock’s finest will all pay tribute to the godfathers of heavy metal.
Ozzy Osbourne, who has battled health issues in recent years, announced this would be his final live performance. Despite Parkinson’s and other medical setbacks, he’s determined to go out on his terms, backed by Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward — marking the first time the original SABBATH lineup has played together in 20 years.
As Ian put it, “I’m not the only SABBATH fan in the band. We all are. And to be a part of this historic sendoff — it’s something we’ll never forget.”
